Link Motion Inc

Link Motion’s history began in 2005, when Henry Lin and Vincent Shi founded the business that became NetQin and later NQ Mobile. The company’s first product, NetQin 1.0, was a mobile-security application launched in October 2005. Its early strategy centered on protecting mobile devices and delivering related productivity and family-oriented services across Java, Symbian, iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry platforms. The company concentrated initially on China and built relationships with the country’s largest mobile operators, handset manufacturers, software platforms and distribution partners. The company received recognition in China’s mobile-security market in 2009 and pursued international expansion before its 2011 public offering. In May 2011, NQ Mobile began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NQ. During this period it reported rapid user growth and entered distribution arrangements with Telefónica and Brightstar. It also created a U.S.-based mobile-security research center. In January 2012, Omar Khan joined as co-chief executive officer, helping direct expansion across North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, South Korea and India, while the founding management continued to oversee important Asian markets. NQ Mobile expanded its business model through acquisitions. The purchase of Feiliu, subsequently branded FL Mobile, added mobile communities, application recommendations and games. FL Mobile became a significant Chinese mobile-game publisher and operator according to the market research cited in the reference material. The acquisition of NationSky added managed mobile services, mobile-device management, application management, consulting, deployment and support for enterprise customers. Further acquisitions and investments added advertising, healthcare, music-information retrieval, software development, training, social entertainment and mobile-content capabilities. By 2014 and 2015, the company began reorganizing and divesting parts of the enlarged portfolio. Zemin Xu became chief executive officer in May 2015, and the company described its activities through technical and entertainment divisions. The Showself Entertainment brand brought together Showself and related mobile products. NQ Mobile sold its NationSky interest for approximately US$80 million at the end of 2015. It subsequently pursued the sale of FL Mobile and Showself, transactions that were completed in December 2017 according to the reference material. The reduction of the mobile-security, enterprise and entertainment portfolio accompanied a strategic move toward connected vehicles. In January 2018, the board approved the change from NQ Mobile Inc. to Link Motion Inc. and changed the listed ticker from NQ to LKM. The new identity emphasized vehicular automation, carputers, connected-car services and mobility as a service. Duo Tang was appointed executive vice president and head of the smart-ride business in March 2018. The company’s corporate trajectory was interrupted by legal and financial control proceedings. In February 2019, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York appointed lawyer Robert W. Seiden as receiver over Link Motion and its assets. A related appointment was made in Hong Kong. The receiver removed Vincent Shi as chairman and chief executive officer and installed Francis Guo in those roles. The available reference does not document a definitive return to ordinary operations, liquidation, acquisition or final court disposition, so Link Motion’s current status remains unknown.

• 2019

  Receivership

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  A New York federal court appointed Robert W. Seiden as receiver, and the receiver replaced Vincent Shi with Francis Guo as chairman and CEO.

• 2018

  Rebranded as Link Motion

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  NQ Mobile Inc. changed its corporate name to Link Motion Inc. and its ticker from NQ to LKM as it emphasized smart rides and mobility services.

• 2017

  FL Mobile and Showself divestments completed

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  The company completed the divestment of FL Mobile and Beijing Showself.

• 2015

  Strategic reorganization

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Under CEO Zemin Xu, the company organized its portfolio into technical and entertainment divisions and launched the Showself Entertainment brand.

• 2012

  International expansion and diversification

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Omar Khan joined as co-CEO, and the company expanded internationally while acquiring or developing mobile-content and enterprise-mobility businesses.

• 2011

  Initial public offering

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  NQ Mobile priced an offering of American depositary shares and began trading on the NYSE under NQ.

• 2005

  Company founded

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Lin and Vincent Shi founded the business that initially operated as NetQin and focused on mobile-security software.

• 2005

  NetQin 1.0 launched

  [1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched its first mobile-security product.

Link Motion positioned itself first as a mobile-security and mobile-internet company, then as a diversified mobile-services provider, and ultimately as a smart-vehicle and mobility-as-a-service technology company.

• Mobile security software · 2005

  NQ Mobile Security

  NQ Mobile Security was the company’s core consumer security line, originating from the NetQin product family. It provided mobile-device protection and antivirus functionality across multiple handset operating systems. The product was distributed through operators, manufacturers, retailers and software channels, and was adapted for international markets as NQ Mobile expanded.

• Privacy and device-protection application

  Vault

  Vault was a freemium mobile application in the company’s consumer value-added-services portfolio. It formed part of the legacy mobile-security and privacy offering that accompanied NQ Mobile’s broader device-protection products.

• Family-safety application

  Family Guardian

  Family Guardian was a consumer service intended to extend NQ Mobile’s mobile-safety proposition to families. It belonged to the company’s freemium mobile value-added-services portfolio.

• Enterprise mobility software

  NQSky

  NQSky was NationSky’s mobile-device-management software. It supported enterprise mobility programs involving device and application management, deployment, maintenance and related services, helping organizations administer mobile fleets across different devices and platforms.

• Mobile games and community services · 2012

  FL Mobile

  FL Mobile was the rebranded Feiliu business acquired by NQ Mobile in 2012. It operated a mobile-interest community and provided application recommendations, user interaction and mobile games. The business was later divested as part of NQ Mobile’s portfolio consolidation.

• Mobile entertainment brand · 2015

  Showself Entertainment

  Showself Entertainment grouped mobile entertainment products including Showself, Showself Live Wallpaper, Showself Music Radar and Showself Launcher. It represented the company’s attempt to organize its consumer entertainment activities under a distinct brand before the business was divested.

• Connected-vehicle and mobility software · 2018

  Link Motion smart-ride solutions

  The Link Motion strategy focused on smart-vehicle technology, including carputers for automotive businesses, vehicular-automation software and mobility-as-a-service applications. The reference material does not identify a stable commercial product catalog or confirmed production deployments after the rebrand.

• 2015Showself Entertainment launch

  China

  The company introduced Showself Entertainment as an umbrella for Showself and related mobile entertainment products.

  Outcome. The brand was subsequently included in the company’s divestment of Beijing Showself.

  Source
• 2011NQ Mobile international distribution program

  United States · Europe · Latin America · Asia

  NQ Mobile pursued international distribution through arrangements with Telefónica and Brightstar, alongside operator, handset and retail partnerships.

  Outcome. The program supported the company’s international expansion, although the available material does not provide a complete performance assessment.

  Source

• 2019

  Court-appointed receivershipOther

  Background

  A federal court in the Southern District of New York acted to preserve Link Motion’s assets.

  Action taken

  The court appointed Robert W. Seiden as receiver. The receiver removed Vincent Shi as chairman and CEO and appointed Francis Guo.

  Aftermath

  A related receivership involved Link Motion subsidiaries in Hong Kong. The available source does not establish the final resolution or current corporate status.

  Source

• 2018

  Rebrand and shift toward smart ridesStrategy

  Background

  After divesting or preparing to divest several mobile-content and enterprise businesses, the company sought a new strategic identity.

  Action taken

  NQ Mobile Inc. changed its name to Link Motion Inc., changed its ticker from NQ to LKM, and emphasized vehicular automation and mobility as a service.

  Aftermath

  The company appointed Duo Tang to lead the smart-ride business, but its subsequent operating results and commercial scale are not established by the available material.

  Source

• 2015

  Reorganization into technical and entertainment divisionsStrategy

  Background

  Following years of acquisitions, the company sought to clarify its portfolio and operating priorities.

  Action taken

  Under CEO Zemin Xu, it divided its activities between technical businesses and entertainment businesses.

  Aftermath

  The company continued divesting non-core businesses and later shifted its principal strategic emphasis toward smart vehicles.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition of Feiliu and expansion into mobile entertainmentM&A

  Background

  NQ Mobile sought to broaden its mobile-internet business beyond security software.

  Action taken

  It acquired Feiliu, which was later rebranded as FL Mobile.

  Aftermath

  FL Mobile became a significant mobile-game and community business before being sold during later portfolio consolidation.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion into enterprise mobility through NationSkyM&A

  Background

  The company aimed to add enterprise services and managed mobile-device capabilities.

  Action taken

  NQ Mobile acquired 55 percent of NationSky and later acquired the remaining 45 percent.

  Aftermath

  NationSky became part of the enterprise-mobility portfolio and was sold for US$80 million at the end of 2015.

  NationSky divestment consideration. US$80 million (2015)

  Source

• 2019

  Court receiver appointed over Link Motion[1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Leadership change · Other

  A federal court in New York appointed Robert W. Seiden as receiver to preserve Link Motion’s assets. The receiver removed Vincent Shi and appointed Francis Guo as chairman and chief executive officer.

• 2018

  NQ Mobile changes its name to Link Motion[1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The company rebranded around smart vehicles and mobility-as-a-service and changed its ticker from NQ to LKM.

• 2012

  NQ Mobile acquires NationSky interests[1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The company acquired an initial majority interest in NationSky and later completed the purchase of the remaining interest, expanding into enterprise mobility.

• 2011

  NQ Mobile begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange[1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company completed its initial public offering and began NYSE trading under the symbol NQ.

• 2011

  NQ Mobile expands international distribution[1]Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  NQ Mobile announced arrangements involving Telefónica and Brightstar to broaden distribution of its mobile-internet and security products.

1. 1Link Motion Incen.wikipedia.org